Lethrus (Scelolethrus) golestanicus Král & Hillert, new species (Figs. 1–8, 11, 14, 17–18) Type locality. Iran, Golestan province, N of Qareh Makher, 37°32’N 54°59’E, 40 m [a.s.l.] (see Figs. 17–18) Type material. Iran, Golestan Prov.: Holotype, ♂ (NMPC), “ IRAN, Golestan prov. | N of QAREH MAKHER | 37°32‘N 54°59‘E, 40 m | 13.iv.2016, David Král lgt. [printed]”. Paratypes: allotype, ♀ and 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (NMPC), same data as holotype; 7 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀ (OHCB), but O. Hillert lgt., 8 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (SJCP), but Stanislav Jákl lgt. Description of holotype (♂). Maximally developed (hyperthelic) male with well developed ventral mandible processes (Figs. 1, 3). Oblong, strongly convex; dorsal surface black, claws black-brown; setation black; moderately shiny, except of opaque head. Head (Figs. 5, 8, 11). Dorsal surface with large sized, coarse, superficial, regularly spaced punctures, posteriorly punctures becoming rather sparser and larger than in clypeus. Keels separating genae with eyes distinct, almost parallel. Frontal tubercles and medial impression only slightly developed; frontoclypeal suture only slightly indicated. Genae sized as usually, with lateral margins emarginate and rather divergent anteriad, anterior angles approximately rectangular, posterior angles rounded. Pleurostomal processes conspicuous, conical, rounded apically, clearly exceeding beyond ventrolateral mandible outline (Figs. 5, 11). Clypeus transverse, trapezoidal with anterior angles rounded. Labrum bilobed, asymmetrical, right lobe remarkably more developed; surface rugosely and coarsely, shallowly and sparsely punctate, each puncture bearing short recumbent seta; anterior margin with dense row of long setae. Mandibles almost symmetrical, in dorsal aspect with weakly emarginate dorsolateral margin, rounded apically, just before half length from basis with distinct oblique keel, reaching mandibular outline; in lateral aspect without longitudinal keel. Ventral mandibular processes distinct, directed obliquely anteroventrally and pointed in lateral aspect, clearly visible in dorsal aspect (Figs. 4–5, 8, 11). Pronotum (Figs. 1, 3) transverse, distinctly broader than base of elytra, broadest just behind middle; margin entirely bordered, slightly crenulate in anterior parts. Anterior angles weakly but distinctly projecting anterolaterad, with angulate outline; lateral margin approximately weakly emarginate anteriorly, than straight to round posterior angle; basal margin straight. Punctation of dorsal surface simple, consisting of deep, sparsely and irregularly distributed punctures, separated by approximately two to four their diameters discally; surface near lateral margins considerably shagreened and alutaceous. Scutellum considerably short, almost twice as wider as long, glabrous. Elytra (Figs. 1, 3) almost semicircular, apices not prominent, each apex forming independent arc. Epipleuron strongly narrowed apicad, epipleural keel not reaching elytral apex. Legs (Figs. 1, 3). Profemora with transversal edge anteroventrally; protibia with row of eight gradually proximad diminishing exterior denticles, and with row of tubercles on ventromedial edge. Aedeagus with inner edge of parameres angulate subapically (Figs. 6–7, 14). Measurements. Body length 14.5–18.5 mm; holotype 18.5 mm; allotype 18.5 mm. Variability in males. Mandible processes in medium developed and underdeveloped (hypothelic) males shorter, weaker, angulate apically. Females (Fig. 2) differ from males as follows: exterior outline of mandibles almost straight, in apical quarter rounded in dorsal aspect; ventral mandibular process absent; protibia broader, row of tubercles on ventromedial edge less pronounced. Differential diagnosis. Lethrus (Scelolethrus) golestanicus Král & Hillert, new species is classified in the L. (S.) sulcatus species group due to the unique shape of the endophallus, which contains a sclerotized arrow that points obliquely backwards (cf. Nikolajev 2003b: 237, figs. 176: 1–3). The species L. (S.) mithras Reitter, 1904, L. (S.) tekkensis Král & Olexa, 1996, L. (S.) percutens Gusakov & Klimenko, 2011 and also our new species posses conspicuous conical pleurostomal processes that clearly extend beyond the ventrolateral mandible outline (Figs. 5, 11–13, cf. Gusakov & Klimenko, 2011: 7, fig. 5). Other species in this group L. (S.) crypticus Král & Olexa, 1996, L. (S.) nazarovi Gusakov, 2017 and L. (S.) sulcatus have rounded pleurostomal processes not exceeding the ventrolateral mandible outline (cf. Král & Olexa 1996: 61, fig. 25 or Nikolajev 2003b: 204, fig. 152: 3). The key below can be used to distinguish the new species, L. (S.) mithras, L. (S.) percutens and L. (S.) tekkensis from each other. Etymology. Toponymic; the specific name golestanicus reflects the Golestan province in Iran where the new species was collected. Collecting circumstances. The type series was collected on slow loess slopes, mainly on pastures and uncultivated fields with very poor herbaceous vegetation (Figs. 17–18). Distribution. Northwestern Golestan, Iran.

Published as part of Král, David & Hillert, Oliver, 2021, Lethrus (Scelolethrus) golestanicus (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Lethrinae), a new species from Iran, pp. 585-590 in Zootaxa 5052 (4) on pages 585-588, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5052.4.8, http://zenodo.org/record/5577369